Mark Convery was the choice of many as United's 'Man of the Match' following Saturday's FA Cup third round defeat at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The midfielder joined from York City last summer and his season so far has been interrupted by niggling injuries, but the midfielder relished the wide open space at Molineux and not only ably supported Scott Rendell but went close to scoring himself and also won the penalty.

Afterwards he admitted, "The lads are really disappointed not to have taken them for at least a draw. I thought the change of formation gave Wolves trouble for all except the first ten minutes, and I think we were helped by the magnificent support we got today.

"I know we all go out of our way to praise the fans after every game - and deservedly so - but today the 4,000 or so who were here were incredible," he stressed. "With the noise they were making, we couldn't hear the home fans and to be a goal up at half-time was just about what they deserved.

"I thought we bossed the first half apart from some odd chances they had, and the midfield restricted Wolves to long range efforts."

The penalty was awarded when Convery's cross came off the arm of defender Neill Collins, and Mark felt there was no doubt at all about the decision: "It was clear cut, that's why I stopped and appealed.

"I hit the cross over for Scott and it hit the defender's arm, it's stopped the ball's flight and the referee made the right decision."

But Mark had had an earlier opportunity to put United ahead, as he described, "We should have been one-nil up by then; Scott's backheel put me through and although their keeper made himself big I should have hit it low and he wouldn't have had a chance."

Like team-mate Danny Potter and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, Convery felt that the introduction of Wolves sub Michael Kightly was the turning point of the game. The former Grays man scored the equaliser and then set up the winner, and Mark admitted, "Things changed when they brought Kightly on.

"He raised their fans and caused us more problems than their entire team had previously. We were disappointed about the goals, particularly the second, because although Dan Gleeson didn't foul him we shouldn't have let them have a free header from the resulting free kick.

"Still, we can feel proud of how we have represented the league and the City of Cambridge. We showed just how good a Blue Square Premier team can play and now we have to transfer that to the league form and get back up there.

"Obviously we've got the little matter of going back to Histon next Saturday and we are all itching to put things right after the New Year's Day game. The players are hurting as much as the fans, so you know whatever is thrown at us we will give it our all."

Interview by David Gray

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